Ornamental conductor for electric wires



y 1929- R. c. sc HsMi uEL I 1.713.302

ORNAXENTAL CONDUCTOR FOR, ELECTRIC WIRES Filed June 27. 1928 Patented May 14, 1929.

ROBERTO. SOHEMMEL, F UNION CITY, INDIANA.

ORNAMENTAL CONDUCTOR FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

Application filed June 27, 1928. Serial No. 288,747.

My invention relates to the insulation of electric wires, but has reference more particularly to an ornamental conduit or container for such wires which would otherwise be exposed to view and more. or less unsightly.

Of course when electric wires are concealed within the walls, floors, or partitions of dwellings, oifice buildings or other structures, there is no particular object in locatingthem in an ornamental container, but when used in surface wiring the matter of appearance becomes one of importance, as does also the means of securing such containers in operative position, as, for example, when in- 1 stalling signal bells or radio connections in an old or completed building.

An object of the present invention is, there fore, the production of conduits for wires which are not only highly ornamental, but

which are at the same time quickly and securely fastened to wash-boards, door-frames, WlIidOW-IEIMIIGS, and the interior trim genera ly.

Wires of the character indicated, when of surface application, are sometimes twisted together into a two-strand cable and fastened in position by means of tacks passed between said twisted strands and, of course, clear of the wires themselves. At other times the Wires are merely stapled into operative position, or are arranged in parallelism, being then bound together and to the supporting framework by suitable brackets, but usually such fastening means are exposed to view and sometimes are very unsightly.

As a further object, the present invention contemplates and provides ornamental and efiicient means for concealing and insulating electric wires, and at the same time means .for concealing the fastening means whereby the conduit itself is held in operative position.

A further object of this invention is the production of means whereby electric conducting wires are enclosed within independent floating tubular jackets, the latter in turn each being united, along one longitudinal side line only, to an attaching base portion by which the completed structure may be secured in operative position.

In the accompanying drawings which form part of this application for Letters Patent and whereon like numerals indicate corres onding parts in the several views:

igure 1 is a perspective view showing one.

corner of the interior of a room, a washboard and part of a door-frame, with a sectlon of the improved wire conductor adjacent to said wash-board and door-frame in position for use;

g. 2 is also a perspective view on a relatlvely enlarged scale showing one end of the present ornamental conductor insulator with insulated wires projecting somewhat from one end thereof;

Fig. 3 is a View of the invention similar to 1g. 2, except that the container has been here temporarily deformed or spread at its celzltral portion to admit a fastening tack; an

Fig. 4 is an end view of the invention,

showing one concealed securing tack driven through the body of the conductor and into the supporting trim.

Reference being had to the drawings and numerals thereon, 1 indicates the base pormom or body material of which the conduit is made, being of any suitable fabric, leather or leatherized material, so long as universally flexible, and being of various colors or combiv nations of colors to harmonize with woodwork or trim of the room in which located, or with the interior hangings or furnishings of such room.

As best shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, this body material 1 is continuous, is folded upon itself, encloses a filler strip 2, and terminates above in two parallel, contacting centrally positioned rolls or tubular wireenveloping heads 3, 3. In these beads are located the independent electric wires 4r,v 4, which in turn may be further insulated and spaced apart by agency of the usual insulating means comprising the rubber coating or tu ing 5, and the surrounding silk covering 6.

Except for the centrally disposed tubular bead portions 3, 3, the conduit as a Whole is of substantially fiat or tape-like form. Both plies of the base portion of body material 1,- as also the filler strip 2, are firmly secured together by lines of stitches 7, 7, each arranged and positioned just outside of its respective bead portion 3 so that the latter may be forcibly spread or rolled apart, as shown by Fig. 3, to permit introduction of fastening tacks 8 as the means of attachment, and each capable of automatically returning to normal position, as shown by Figures 1, 2 and 4, when the spreadin pressure is removed, thus closing over the eads of tacks 8 to hide them from View, which is known as blindnailing.

Having thus described my present invention, its use, operation and advantages are quite obvious, but may be briefly stated as follows:

The present form of universally flexible conduit, having been constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described,

efliciently insures the proper spacing at all times, and insulation of the conductor wires 4, 4, permanently located therein, and may be quickly, neatly and effectually applied to base-boards, door-frames, or other trim elements, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, by the simple process of spreading the wire-carrying beads 3, 3, and applying tacks 8 at suitable intervals, as shown. This accomplished, the said beads automatically roll or close over the said tack heads to conceal them, whereupon the fastening is complete.

The structure shown and described hereinabove constitutes but one exemplification of my present invention, and I do not desire to be limited to the specific details of construction embodied therein. On the contrary, various modifications to meet varying conditions and requirements will suggest themselves to persons familiar with the art to which my invention relates, and these modifications are to be considered within the spirit of my invention and covered by the claims appended hereto. For example, it is not always necessary or desirable to use two electric conducting wires, for some purposes a single wire being sufiicient, as in the case of the connection between a radio receiving set and its antenna, or its ground. For such use only one of the beads need contaiii an electric conducting wire. The other bead is then preferably not left empty, but may inclose any suitable filler, as, for example, twisted paper or cotton cord.

Again, it will be noted that the specific form of covering which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described herein is similar to the structure known to the automobile body trimming trade as Hidem welt, which formed the subject of United States Letters Patent No. 1,226,600, granted to me May 15, 1917. I have shown and described Hidem welt as forming one element of my present invention merely because the combination of electric conducting wires with Hidem welt constitutes the best mode in which I have contemplated applying the principle of my .present invention. It is to' be understood, however, that any of the various types of 'relativel flat blind-nail finishing welts now availab e, or indeed which may be hereafter devised, may be used asthe covering element of my present invention, the essence of which is the combination of electric conducting means with blind-nail ornamental covering' therefor.

adapted to be spread apart for the introduction of suitable fastening means and to automatically close over said fastening means when in final operative position, and an independent electric conducting wire in each of said tubular beads.

2. An ornamental flexible conduit for electric wires including a relatively thin tape-like base, in combination with wire-receiving tubular beads surmounting said base, arranged and adapted to be spread apart for the introduction of suitable fastening tacks and to automatically close over said tacks when in final operative position, and an independent electric conducting wire in each of said tubular beads.

23. An ornamental conduit for electric wires including incombination a base, a pair of wire-receiving tubular and contacting beads surmounting said base, adapted to be forcibly spread apart and to then automatically resume their parallel contacting relation, and an independent electric conductingwire in each of said tubular beads.

4. An ornamental conduit for electric wires including in combination a base, a pair of normally. contacting beads surmounting said base adapted to be forcibly spread apart and to then automatically resume their parallel contacting relation, and an electric conducting wire in one of said beads.

5. A covering fabric arranged and adapted for blind nailing including a hingedbead portion, in combination with an electric conducting wire contained in said bead portion.

6. A blind nail finishing welt including a plurality of hinged beads in combination with electric conducting wires contained in said beads.

7. A blind nail finishing welt providing a base portion, a wire-enveloping bead portion superimposed upon said base portion, an electric conducting Wire within said bead portion, and a hinged connection between said base and bead portions at one side only of the latter.

8. A blind nail finishing welt providing a base portion, a wire-enveloping head portion, an electric conducting wire within said head portion, and a hinge connection between said base and bead portions along one side only of the latter.

9. A blind nail finishing welt providing a base portion, a wire-enveloping bead portion,

an electric conducting wire within said bead portion, and a hinged shock-absorbing connection between said base and bead portions along one side only of the latter.

10. In an electric conductor, an insulating along one side ofeach, the jackets being otherjacket enclosing said conductor, and an atwise free. taching base to which said jacket is united in 12. In an electric circuit, the combination hinged arrangement along one longitudinal with conductor wires, of independent and 5 side line, the jacket being otherwise free. floating jackets, one for each of said Wires, 15 11. In an electric circuit, the combination and an attaching base to which said jackets with conductor wires, of independent insuare secured along their outer edges only.

lating jackets enclosing said wires one for Intestimony whereoflaflix my signature. each, and an attaching base to whlch said jackets are united in hinged arrangement ROBERT C. SCHEMMEL. 

